wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “grid layout”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “grid layout”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 4 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Cards Layout – showcase content in responsive card grids shows at wp.org #10 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 1623 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #1 2 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #5 6 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #6 7 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #11 4 too low 8 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #7 ↑1 1 too high 9 Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #17 8 too low 10 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #13 ↑10 3 too low 11 
Post Grid Addon for Elementor 10K+ · 4.9★ (76)
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #19 ↓1 7 too low 13 
Product Category Slider & Grid for WooCommerce – Reno Product Category 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too high 14 
AnWP Post Grid and Post Carousel Slider for Elementor 20K+ · 4.9★ (84)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
Grids: Layout builder for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #9 6 too high 16 
Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid 20K+ · 4.7★ (353) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↓5 1 too high 17 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #21 ↓4 4 too low 18 
Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #24 ↓3 6 too low 19 
YMC Filter 4K+ · 4.8★ (34)
wp.org #20 ↓9 1 too low 20 
Portfolio Grid – Filterable Gallery, Grid & Slider Showcase 800+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #23 ↓3 3 too low 21 
Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
Video Grid 1K+ · 4.4★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓3 4 too high 23 Cards Layout – showcase content in responsive card grids 500+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑9 13 too high 24 
Classic Blog Grid 3K+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 10 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.